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3 Ways to Beat a Summertime Slump

Business slows down in the summer for many college stores, which makes this the perfect time to attend to a few things that may get overlooked during the busy school year. Of course, we recommend that you schedule some relaxation as well, but otherwise, why not cross a few items off a long-standing to-do list? Here are just a few suggestions, selected from a post on Small Business Bonfire.

Many small businesses see a decline in sales during the summer, but that doesn’t mean small business owners should embrace the slump. When sales slow, it’s the perfect opportunity to plan for your busiest seasons. Whether you struggle with the back-to-school rush or the bustle of the holidays, preparing now means enjoying life a little more when sales pick up again.

1. Revamp Your Social Strategy

Take time to analyze your social media presence. Could you benefit from changing up your plan, participating on a new platform, or leaving sites that don’t significantly impact your bottom line? While you have a chance, brainstorm campaigns for the future. You can get started designing images, writing tweets, and planning promotions now so that you’ll have plenty of time to devote to customers and clients when demands on your time are greater.

2. Take a Class or Attend a Seminar

You can’t possibly know all there is to know about running a small business, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try. Pick a topic that interests you or find something that will specifically benefit your business – either way, you can enjoy an opportunity to step away from the daily grind while still working to improve your small business.

If summer is a slow time for you, it might be the perfect time to clean and reorganize your store. When traffic is slow and your mind is a little clearer you can start on that laundry list of things you’ve been wanting to tackle but have never had the time to do. Restock inventory so it’s easier to track and more efficient to ship. Reorganize the counter so it’s more convenient for customers to check out. Clean and declutter your store floor to make it more appealing to passersby.

Tackling a few big projects during a sales slump lets you spread out your responsibilities and maintain a more manageable schedule all year long. No small business and no small business owner ever profits from a burnout.

What to-dos will you tackle this summer? Let us know in the comments!

Kate Seat is a former copywriter at MBS. When away from work, she’s either creating one-of-a-kind art dolls, reading or watching way too much tv with her husband, daughter and an irritable chinchilla named Klaus.

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